Tag: Dalio Philanthropies

Philanthropy aimed at K-12 education in the U.S. has ramped up in the past few decades and remains complex and controversial. Funders back diverse causes like delivering new learning technologies, establishing charter schools and backing professional development for public school teachers, among many others. Along with local and regional funders, major philanthropies like the Bill and Melinda Gates, Broad and Walton Family Foundations direct hundreds of millions to education annually.

Diane Ravitchsays these funders should prioritize helping under-resourced American learning institutions and families by supporting traditional public schools and their teachers, and addressing income inequality. She discussed these topics as well as funding for girls and the pitfalls of charter schools with Philanthropy Women. Ravitch is an education author and historian and a former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education. She is currently a research professor of Education at New York University and president of the Network for Public Education, which she founded.

Image: Barbara Dalio reads to kindergarten students in a Connecticut public school. (Image Credit: @DalioEducation on Twitter)

A recent announcement of a gift from Dalio
Philanthropies to Connecticut’s public schools brings Barbara Dalio’s work in
education into the spotlight. She’s a hands-on philanthropist and the wife of
Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of the most successful hedge
funds in the U.S. The wealth of these Giving Pledge signatories is estimated at
more than $18 billion.

As part of a public-private partnership to
support disengaged youth in public schools, the Dalios and the state government
of Connecticut will each give $100 million toward a new $300 million project.
They call on other philanthropists and business leaders to contribute the
remaining third during the next five years. The Dalio’s gift is the largest
known philanthropic donation to benefit the state of Connecticut to date.